American Government and Politics Today

1. American Government and Politics Today Chapter 3 Federalism

2. A Unitary System • Central government gives power to sub-national governments (counties, provinces, etc.). • Local governments typically have only those powers granted to them by the central government, rather than any reserved powers. • Especially important is the central government’s role of provider of funds.

3. A Confederal System • Power is retained by local or regional governments. • Example: The EU (European Union). Each country has ultimate power within the system although there is an EU parliament and other institutions that set a common European policy.

4. A Federal System • Divides power between the national and lower level governments. • Each government has distinct powers that the other governments cannot override. • Examples: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Mexico, and the United States.

5. Why Federalism? • The authors of the Constitution wanted to combine a central government strong enough to maintain order with strong states. • The large geographical size of a country. • State governments have served as training grounds for national politicians and as laboratories in which new ideas can be tested. • Federalism Allows for Many Political Subcultures. • Arguments against Federalism.

6. The Flow of Power in Three Systems of Government

7. Powers of the National Government • Enumerated Powers • The Necessary and Proper Clause. • Implied Powers—allow the national government to make decisions that fall outside the expressed powers. • Inherent Powers—recognized by all sovereign nations.

8. Powers of State Governments • According to the Tenth Amendment, all powers that were not delegated to the national government. • In theory states still retain all powers not delegated to the national government, but in reality the national government has expanded the scope of governmental action on a grand scale.

9. Powers of State Governments • Police power, the authority to legislate for the protection of the health, morals, safety, and welfare of the people. In the United States, most police power is reserved to the states.

10. Concurrent and Prohibited Powers

11. Prohibited Powers • Apply to both the national and state governments. • The national government is prohibited from taxing exports. State governments are prohibited from conducting foreign policy and from coining money.

12. Supremacy Clause • Article VI of the Constitution mandates that actions by the national government are supreme. • Any conflict between a legitimate action of the national government and a state will be resolved in favor of the national government.

13. Vertical Checks and Balances Federalism can be seen as an additional way of preventing government from growing too strong, beyond the division of the national government into the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

14. Interstate Relations • Article IV of the Constitution attempts to resolve potential problems between states by stipulating the following: • Full faith and credit clause—states must honor actions of other states. • Privileges and immunities • Interstate extradition • Interstate compacts

15. Defining Constitutional Powers • McCulloch v. Maryland (1819). Affirmed that the power of Congress is not strictly limited to the expressed powers. Marshall held that Congress has implied powers to carry out the expressed powers. • Gibbons v. Ogden (1824). This case set the precedent for the national government to regulate a wide range of economic activities.

16. States’ Rights and the Civil War • The Jacksonian Era and the shift back to States’ Rights • The Civil War and the growth of the national government • Post Civil War amendments represented a serious enhancement of national power. The national government now abolished slavery, defined who was an American citizen, and attempted (with limited success) to provide rights to the freed slaves that included the right to vote.

17. Dual Federalism • Emphasized dividing the state and national spheres of power into entirely separate jurisdictions. • Part of the Supreme Court’s attempt to regain its powers after the Civil War.

18. The New Deal and Cooperative Federalism • New Deal legislation vs. Dual Federalism • Cooperative federalism emphasized an expanded role for the national government, and cooperation between the national government and the states.

19. The New Deal and Cooperative Federalism • Roosevelt’s programs typically were funded by the federal government, but administered by states and local governments, thus creating a cooperative framework for federalist relations. Often called picket-fence federalism.

20. Implementing Cooperative Federalism • Categorical Grants • “Strings-Attached” Federal Grants • Block Grants • Federal Mandates

21. Central Government Spending

22. The Politics of Federalism • States’ rights have been associated with conservatism, and national authority has been associated with liberalism. Why? • Accomplishments of National Authority • Economic relief • Civil rights and the War on Poverty • States favor the status quo

23. Federalism Becomes a Republican Issue • “New Federalism.” Beginning with President Richard Nixon (1969–1974), the Republican Party championed devolution, or the transfer of powers from the national government to the states. They called this policy federalism, a new use of the term. • Under current conditions liberals may have pragmatic reasons to support states’ rights in some instances, such as in gay rights issues.

24. Federalism and the Supreme Court • Reigning in the Commerce Power • State Sovereignty and the Eleventh Amendment • Tenth Amendment Issues

25. Questions for Critical Thinking • Name some examples in which the supremacy doctrine has practical effect. • Discuss the importance of the case of Gibbons v. Ogden (and the cases that were based on its principles). • What are some obstacles to devolution? Are there any disadvantages to the new federalism?